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Assessment

CRITICAL PAPER REVIEW (1000 WORDS)
If students fail the module overall, any failed component must be re-sat or determined as the Examination Board sees fit.

50%

Supplementary Assessment

RESEARCH PROPOSAL (1500 WORDS)

50%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Critically assess the key principles of both quantitative and qualitative research design.
2. Identify when to use different research methods appropriately.
3. Evaluate the benefits and limitations of different types of research methods

Aims

This module provides an introduction to research methods in psychology, assumes no prior knowledge of psychology and provides students with a knowledge base for future study. It provides students with an overview of the qualitative and quantitative research methods used in psychological research.

Brief description

Psychology as a science; exploring the use of qualitative and experimental methods in psychology

Content

Research design
Observational research
Internet based research
Qualitative research
Experimental designs, relationships Vs cause and effect
Psycho-physiological methods
Questionnaire designs
Quality criteria in research designs
Writing research proposals

Module Skills

Skills Type

Skills details

Application of Number

N/A

Communication

Students will learn how to present their ideas in writing through presentation of the critical review and research proposal. They will need to understand the importance of clear communication and how to use the many sources of information available appropriately. They will learn to be clear and direct in their aims and objectives.
Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format and the presentation of work should reflect effective expression of ideas and good use of language skills in order to ensure clarity, coherence and effective communication.

Improving own Learning and Performance

The module aims to promote self-management but within a context of assistance from both the facilitator and the fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and to exercise their own initiative, including searching for sources, compiling reading lists, and deciding (under guidance) the appropriate use of psychological research to address specific topics. The need to meet practical deadlines will focus students¿ attention on the need to manage their time and opportunity resources well.

Information Technology

Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web, as well as seeking sources through electronic information sources (such as Web of Science and PsychLit; PsychInfo).

Personal Development and Career planning

Learning about the process of planning projects, framing the parameters of the projects, honing and developing the projects and seeing through to completion will contribute towards their portfolio of transferable skills

Problem solving

The submission of a critical paper review and a research proposal will require that the student develops independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; estimate an answer to the problem; consider the appropriateness of the use of different research methodology in published research; reason logically; apply theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems.

Research skills

The submission of the critical paper review and research proposal will reflect the independent research skills of the student. The need to locate appropriate research resources and evaluate research will facilitate research skills.

Subject Specific Skills

Students will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of subject specific skills that will help them to understand, conceptualise and choose appropriate research methods. These subject specific skills include:
- Assessment of scientific methods in psychology.
- Differentiation between quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry.
- Demonstration of a familiarity with the techniques required for literature searches.
- Development of research proposal writing skills

Team work

Within the lecture based design of the module, lectures will be designed to encourage small-group discussion where students will be obliged to discuss as a group the core issues related to research topics and appropriate research methods